Twentieths to albert leavitt



e sheenwsneet 1.

(No Model.)

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

MACHINE POR LABELING SANS.

Patented' Peb. 26, 1889.

Furia- Nv mtas. Fhm-nmognpher. wawinwn. nu

(No Model.)

6 Sheets- Sheet 2. M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

IVLQCHINE POR LABELING- GANS.

Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

N PETERS, Phowmmgmpner, wasmngw'n. D. c.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. V. B. ETHRIDG-E.

MACHINE PoR LABBLING GANS.

Patented 11810.26, 1889.

lll l .um 'www @Zal/U Ik m www,

N PETERS. Punto-Lnrwmplwf. wnsnmgwn. uc.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

MAGHINE FOR LABELING GANS.

Patented Feb. 26

N. PETERS, Pmm-Lnhngmpher, wzlingmn, n. c.

(Nb Model.) s sheets-sheen 5. M. V.' B. ETHRIDGE. MACHINE FOR LABBLING GANS.

No. 398,775.v Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

(No Moel.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. M. V. B. ETHRIDGB.

MACHINE POR LABELING GANS.

No. 398,775. Patented Peb. 26, 1889.

INVENTDR WITNE'ESEE Nv PETERS. Phemuxhagmphnr. washington. D. C,

miren Frames Vafrcnar trice.

MARTIN V. B. FTHRIDGF., OF BGSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGXOR OF NINE- TVENTIETHS T() ALBERT LEA'Vl'IT, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE. FOR LABELlNG DANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 898,775, dated February 26, 1889.

Application filed Jctcic. 17, 1887,

Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a 1 Fig. fi is a sec plan, of one of my machines.

Fig. l

tional elevation on line f3 3 ol' Fig. Q. is an end elevation o'l Fig. In.

G, 7, S, and are details illustrating the details of construction et' the pastingapparatus.

Fig. l() is an inside elevation lfrom the arrow l0 of Fig. 2, illustrating a portion el' the mechanism for carrying the can over the pasted label. Fig. llV is an end elevation ot Fig. lO. Figs. l2, 13, and ll illustrate the construction ot the carrier which supports apack of labels, Fig. ll being a plan and Figs. l2 and 'i3 sections on lines 125 5i and l2 l2 of Fig. la. Fig. l5 is a detail illustrating the locking mechanism by which the pack carrier is locked when the can is rolled over it. Fig. lo is an end view, partly in section, illustrati ing the can-carrier. Fig. lT is a sectional elevation on line i7 ot Fig. lt. plan oi Fig. iT, partly in section. Figs. l)l 20, and 2l are details illustrating the meeh- Fig. 1S is a l Figs. 1:3 and t y illustrate the pasting apparatus; and Figs. l

Serial No` 252,631. (No model.)

bels. Fig. ilo illustrates the mechanism for giving the ring or wheel its proper motions. Fig. 3T is a l'ront view, and Fig. 38 a side view, illustrating the device used for smoothing and working the paste into the label and te keep the label from curling.

Hy invention is a lnachine for applying labels to cans; and it consists, mainly, of a pack-holder for receiving a number or pack of labels, a pasting apparatus by which the upper label ot' the pack is pasted, and a cancarrier by which the can is rolled over the pasted label, organized by suitable connecting mechanism to torni a machine by which the labels are pasted one after the other and the pasted label and can brought into proper relation, and the can rolled over the pasted label, or vice versa-that is, the pasted label passed under the rolling can.

The main novelty of my machine is a cancarrier consisting, essentially, of a pair of l clamps which open during the back-stroke of anism for opening and closing the clamps y illustrating the locking device for the front y step. Fig. 2t is a sectional elevation on line 24 of Fig. 23; and Fig. 25 is the same, but in a different position. Fig. 2t; like Fig. 2l, except that the machine has been adjusted t'or cans ol smaller diameter. Figs. 27, 2S, and 29 are details illust 'ating the middle or centering stop. a sectional elevation on line 3l. of Fig. 30, illustrating the can-discharging apparatus. Fig. is a detail showing a part ol the dis charging-chute. Figs. 233, 3l, and 35 are de,- tails illustrating the locking device for locking the ring which carries the packs ot la- Fig. 30 is a plan, and Fig. 31 1 the can-carrier to receive the can, then close upon the can and revolve with the can durin the forward stroke ol' the can-carrier when the can is carried over the pasted label. lYhile l have contemplated a can-carrier on Yhis principle which retained the can until near the completion of its baek-stroke-that is to say, discharged the labeled can near the same position in which the can to belabeledwas t'ed into it-l have l'ound it better where the can is to be fed automatically rather than by hand to the can-carrier to cause the carrier to take the can at one end ot its stroke and discharge it at the opposite end, as in the machine shown in the drawings. I have also contemplated a pack-carrier which should re ciprocate between the pasting device and the can-carrier, but prefer to use a number of pack-carriers moving in a circle, as shown in the drawings. v

lt will be clear that the cans may be i'ed to the can-carrier by hand; but as this requires the constant attention of the opera-tor I prel'er to use an automatic eontrivance by which the cans are brought successively into proper relation with the clamps o'll the can-carrier.

ln the drawings, A A represent the base and t rame ot the machine.

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B is a wheel which rotates intermittently and carries a number ot' plates, b, each plate having secured to it a block or pad of labels. The labels in packs are secured to a stiff backing of pasteboard, forming the ordinary block or pad gummed at one edge, as will be clear without further description. The stiff backing of this block or pack of labels is secured to a plate, Zi, by means of the edge gage b and the clamps b2 b3. Clamps h2 are moved toward and from each other by the right and left screw IJ, and the clamp h3 is moved toward and from the edge gage b and held by pin or clamp screw, as will be clear without further description from Figs. 13 and 14. The plate b is fast to spindle b5, which is socketed in a sleeve, l, clamped to the ring B, and this spindle h5 is elevated to bring the upper label, after it is pasted, into contact ivith the can by means of a cord and spring or the like, as indicated in Figs. 10, 11, and 13, in which the cord is marked 2 and thespring 3, the cord being secured to the spindle b5 and also to spring 3, which is fast at one end to wheel B. The plate b is normally in the position shown in Fig. l2, and is held in this position against the resistance of spring 3 by a set-screw, bs, mounted in a boss, 5, in sleeve 1, and the setscrew is held in Contact with the spindle b5 by a spring, 1110, (see Fig. 15,) which is secured to arm b9 of the set-screw b and also to the wheel B. Then the upper end of 'lever f is moved into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, the hook bs, fulcrumed to it, rides on a rack, b, in wheel B, and when the lever returns to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 15 the hook bs drops into engagement with arm bf and set-screw b and withdraws the set-screw suiiiciently from the spindle lf to allow the spindle with its plate to move upward under stress of spring It will now be clear that the label-carriers l) are brought successively by the motion of the ring or wheel B into proper relation with the pasting 'apparatus and t-he can-carrier.

lVhile I have shown only one pasting apparatus and can-carrier, it will be obvious that there is room upon the wheel or ring B for a second pasting apparatus and can-carrier, but as the paste I prefer to use works better if it is spread upon. the label about a min ute be fore the label is pasted upon the can I prefer to use only one pasting apparatus and canearrier, as shown in the drawings, and to revolve the ring or wheel B in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, as this gives time for the paste to get into proper condition before it is applied to the label and before the label is stuck.

In Fig.12 the spindle lf is shown controlled by a set-screw, b, which prevents the operation of the cord and spring shown in Fig. '13 until the set-screw is loosened. By this means the upper surface of the block of labels is prevented from rising until the set screw is automatically loosened at the proper time.

The pasting apparatus is best shown in Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive. It consists of avessel, D, containing paste, the mouth of which is closed by roller d, with the usual adjustingplat-e, d', too familiar to require further description. This vessel D is supported upon the stud d?, which is fast to a horn or arm projecting from slide d3, which slide moves in ways fast to the upright A. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) Slide dis reciprocated by lever d4, a stud from the slide entering the forked end of the lever, as shown in Fig. 3. The lever Z4 is oseillated by means of the crank-pin projecting from the gear-wheel and entering the slot in the lever d, as will also be clear from Fig. The pinion di meshes with a rack, d6, which rack is rigidly connected to the upright A', so that the pinion di revolves as the pastefountain is traveled back and forth. The pinion d5 is also connected to a hub or trunnion fast to one side of the paste-fountain by a spring-brake, (shown in detail in Fig. 6,) so that when the paste-fountain is traveled from left to right (see Fig. 3) it is tipped, as shown in dotted lines on the right of Fig. 3, until its stop dT strikes the cross-piece CIS, thereby bearing the roll d of the paste-fountain into close contact with the upper label of the pack. The stop (Z7 is a screw, in order to make it adjust.- able. Vhen the paste-fountain is carried from right to left, the pinion ("I", actin g through the friction-brake shown in Fig. G, tips the fountain until stop dt comes in contact with cross-piece d8, thereby causing the roll d to clear the pack of labels. The roll d has pinion d10 connected with its shaft by means of the ratchet and pawl, as shown in Fig. 7, and pinion (7.10 meshes with pinion (Z5, which is driven by the rack (ZG, as already described, and as fully shown in Fig. S. In this way the roll I is revolved only in the forward stroke of the paste-fountain; but pinion d10 pulls the ratchet over the pawl on the back-stroke with out revolving roll d.

The can-carrier F is a bracket projecting from slide f, which moves in ways in the npright A', Figs. 10 and 11. This slide f is reciprocated by lever f', as will be clear from Fig. 10, and substantially as before described as to the slide-carrying paste-fountain. The

i can-carrier has two clamps, f2, each mounted upon a spindle, so that. the clamps cannot only be moved nearer together to clamp the cans and farther apart to release the cans, but can also be revolved to roll the can over the pasted label. The pinions f3-are connected to the spindles of the clampsf2 by a frictionbrake, as shown in the right of. Fig. 16, and these pinions mesh with the racksf, so that when slide f is moved forward and back by lever f the clamps f2 are rotated; but this rotation is not positive in the clamps f2 because of the friction-connection between the pinions f3 and those clamps. The importance of this is that I am enabled thereby to give the clamps f2 and the cans held between them a slightly greater surface speed than TOO IIO

39eme s collar f5 surrounds the spindle of the clamp I f2, and a projection from collar f engages cam f near the end of the back-stroke of the slide f, thereby separating the clamps f2, so

that a can can be inserted between them; but 'l as these projections from collar f D pass farther back they pass by a shoulder on the cams f, as shown in Fig. 17. In Fig. 1.0 the collar is shown just before it has traveled far enough back for its projections to pass by a shoulder on the cams f, dot/ted lines in this figure indicatin g different. positions taken by the collar in its travel, and the ClampsfQare. thrown forward by springs, (shown on the right of Fig. 16,) so as to seize the can between them. As this brings the projections on the collars y in line with the camsf, l mount the cams on studs and counterweight them, as shown 1 in 1T, 1S, a-nd 1t), so that the cams will be moved out of the way on the forward stroke oli' the can-carrier, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1li-l.

'lhe collar f and cams f are adjust able with the clamps f2 for different lengths of cans, as follows: The threaded sleeve j" passes can-carrier during the back-stroke unt-i1 the projection S on the collarf5 clears the springcatch 7, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig 17, when the clamps are far enough away from the can to allow the clamps to return to position without engaging the can lying in the chtite.

As will be obvious, the cans might be fed into and taken outof the can-carrierbyhand; but I deem it better to provide automatic devices by which the cans can be fed automatically to the can-carrier and delivered from the machine after they are freed from the cancarrier. A number of cans are placed upon a chute, Gf, Fig. 10, and rolled down that chute in to the chute G, where they are arrested,the lower end of the chute forming one stop and the cross-piece upon the lingerg anotherstop, while a third stop, g, prevents the forward motion of the can when pressed down upon the pasted label, as shown in Fig. 24. These stops also center the eansin accurate relation to the clamps f2 of the can-carrier. Then the can-carrier moves forward with the lowermost can, the linger g is moved out of the way against the force of its spring g2 and is returned to place b v that spring as soon as the can clears it. The lirst motion of linger g depresses stop gil, which has an arm fast to the shaft, to which linger g is also fast, and thereby allows the arrester if* to come in contact with the can next above the lower-most- "one, and thereby stop the further descent of the row of cans.

through a nut fast to collar f", so that. by turning sleeve f7 the collar and its clamp i lengthwise oli' the spindle.

,fie and 4the spindle ot' that clamp are moved A cannf, is adl j usted by nul f8 on the screw-stud upon which that nut travels. (Shown clearly in Fig. 20.) The sleeve j also serves as a stop to prevent clamp fi' moving too far in when there isl no can between the clamp. After the can has been carried over the pasted label, and

the label wrapped tightly around it, one of l the collars f. which, as above explained, is l mounted on the spindle of a clamp, fi;

(see Fig. 16,) engages with a cam, fg, mounted on the rack-frame, as shown in Figs.

17 and 18, and this cam 709 is formed with an so that when the collar f5 enone-quarter of an inch and lies in the chute l, hereinafter referred to. The can-carrier now travels in the opposite direction, and to prevent the clamps f2 from seizing the can and carrying it bach lo the position indicated in the right ol' Fig. 1,7 a spring-catch, T, is inserted in the face of cam f, over which the projection S on collar-ji rides, so that on the beginning of the back-stroke of the can-earrier one of the clamps f2 is held away from the can, thereby allowing the can to remain in the chute. The cam fg moves with the The linger g is actuated as follows: A horn, 71, projects from the main frame of the cancarrier, as shown in Figs. 17 and 22, and this horn carries a rod, 71, which stands in relation to an ear, 712,011 the front stop carried by the lingers g, as shown in Figs. 22 and 23, so that when the can-carrier moves forward with the can the rod 7i bears against the ear 712, and thereby causes the lingers g to move upward against the force of the spring g2, thus allowing the lowermost can free passage under the stop carried by the fingers g. ll'hile the can itself might lift the lingers g, yet, as the label has not become fully'dried, it is deemed better to have the special contrivance for preventing the rubbing of the front stop on the can. The rod 7L' is adjusted for dilierent sizes of cans by means of the slot in the upper part ot the horn 7L and the adjustingscrew which passes through a lug on the horn 7i. On the return-stroke ot the can-carrier the rod 7L rides over the ear 7a2, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2Q, and falls into place to engage the ear 7t`- when the can-carrier gets to the position to seize a can. The lingers g are locked in place by means of the springbolt 7i entering a hole in a segment, 711, rigidly attaeherfl to one of the lingers g. This spring-bolt is carried by a collar, lz, which is held by a set-screw to the shaft to which the 'lin gers g are fast. The can Mis fast to a projection on the fra-me ofthe can-carrier, as shown in Figs. 23, 23, and 17, and this cam.

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engages with the bolt 71,3 as the can-carrier nears the lowermost can and withdraws the bolt 71 from the segment 71.*, as shown in Figs. and 23, leaving the fingers g free to be moved by the rod 7L', as above described.

The labeled cans are carried out of the machine as follows: The racks f* are narrowed near their inner ends, as shown in Fig. 30, to receive the movable end 7c of the final chute K, so that when the pinions f3 come to the narrow parts of the racks f4 they bear upon the parts 7c and depress the swinging parts k 7e of the final chute K, as shown in Fig. 3l. The can is then released by the clamps f2 and drops slightly intoa depression shown between the parts k andlc, and as the can-carrier and its pinions f3 move back the parts 7s k spring up into the, position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 3l, and the can rolls down the chute li. lr. is a single piece of sheet-steel continuous with the bottom of the chute K, but has an auxiliary spring, k2, to aid in lifting it.

The ring or wheel B is rotated by means of the lever J, which is oscillated substantially as before described in relation to the levers d4 and f. This lever .I carries slide j, upon which is the spring-pawl j, which enga-ges with notches j? in the periphery of the ring B, so that the ring is moved from notch to notch by the motion of the slide j and its pawl y". The ringB is locked in place by the springbolt Z, which is fast to the upright A4, as shown in Figs. 38, V34, and 35, and this springbolt is withdrawn at the proper time by the cam Z ,fast to the intermediate gear, A5. This locking device carries the stop-pawl Z2, which prevents all possibility of the backward motion of the ring.

In my machine as shown in the drawings the front corner of each pack of labels would i 'rub against the under side of the lowermost can as the pack of labels came under the feeding-chute were it not for the rock-shaft ym, which by its motion raises the lever m' at the proper time and'clcvat'es the chute G clear of can by t-he spring and cord which elevate the pack-carrier h. The rock-shaft m (see Fig. 10) is rocked by lever m2 and its cam m3, this lever and cam ,being clearly shown in Fig. l. This rock-shaft and its lever are also shown in plan in Fig. 36.

The ring B is kept from sagging by the trucks n, and to the frame that supports these trucks I attach swinging carriers n, each carrying a pad or wiper, n2, which hangs in such relation to the pasted label that the label Will slightly raise the pad as it passes under it, so that the paste upon the label will be smoothed and worked into the label and the label will also be kept from curling' and made ready for` application to the can.

As the pinions f3 vary in size to suit the varying diameters of the cans, I have shown the racks f4 adjustable on their frames by means of two holes through the frame, the racks being supported by a clamp screw through the upper hole (shown in Fig. 17) when the smaller-sized cans are to be labeled.

The operation is as follows: The cans are fed by the attendant into the chute G and rolled into the chute G, While the lowermost can is stopped and centered by the stops g g and the lower end of the chute G. The cancarrier at the end of its back-stroke seizes the can by means of the clamps f2, as above explained, and moves forward with the can, stop g being moved out of the way. Just before the can commences to move forward with t-he can-carrier the pack of labels is pressed up under t-he can by means of the spring and cord on the block-carrier, and as the can-carrier moves forward the can is revolved by means of the revolving clamps and their pinions, and as the diameter of the can is slightly greater than the diameter of the pinions the surface of the can tends to slide the uppermost label on the pack of labels below it; but the friction of this moistened label upon those below it and the gumming at the front end of the pack together prevent the uppermost label from sliding on those below it. This causes the can to stretch the uppermost label, thereby preventing wrinkles. VVhen the strain exceeds the proper amount, the friction device which connects the clamps and the pinions allows the pinions to move without rotating the can. Moreover, the label has already swelled from the moisture of the paste which has been applied and wiped in and smoothed by the passage of each label from the pasting device under the wipers and by reason of the paste being applied for about a minute before the label is applied to the can, so that after the label is applied it can more closely. Then the label has been thus wrapped about the can, the can-carrier has brought the can over the curved depression between the pieces k la of the chute K, and the can is then released and carried down the chute K. It will be kobserved from the drawings that the line ofthe sliding can-carrier is not quite parallel to the surface of the pack, and in practice I prefer to have the surface of the can slightly above the surface of the pack after the can has traveled upon the pack for a few inches-that is, the pack is, of course, pressed firmly up under the canthe can being prevented from lifting by the weight of the chute G and the other cans vin that chute and by the center supportingstop, g; but the axis of the can moves forward over the pack in a plane which slants slightly away from the surface of the pack, so that after the can has traveled three or IOO Vtends te shrink in'dry'ing, making it hug the Iour inches the uppermost label (one end ot' which is Wrapped partly about the can) is slightly elevated Afrom those labels below it. This is an important feature for several reasons, the chiel of which is'to properly strain the label, so that Ait maybe always wrapped smoothly and tightly about the can. This slant also carries the labeled can well above 'the labels in 'the pack toward and over which the can is carried.

The main A[features ot' the novelty of my invention reside in pasting the labels at such a distance from the point Where they are applied to the can as to give the label an opportunity to swell from the moisture of thepaste and generally to bring the pasted label into what is called the proper temper; and I am the first, so far as l know, to deviseamachine in which this can be done.

Another 'feature of novelty in my machine is the straining of the label by rolling the can over it, the amount of strain depending upon the adjustment of the friction device which connects the can clamps with the power by which they are revolved. This teature is also Wholly new with me, so tar as I have any reason to believe.

l am aware ot' Pritchards patent, No.

252,137, ot' January 10, 1882; Pattes patent, No. 106,724, of August 23, 1870, and llurselfs paient, Xo. slttlfli, of April 5, 18S?, and disclaim all that is shoivn in them.

llfhat I claim as my invention ism 1. The can-carrier F, provided with one or more clamps, f`-`, each mounted on a spindle provided with a pinion, f3, which is connected to the spindle by a friction-brake, and one or more racks, 7"1, the spindles of the clamps f2 being movable endivise through the pinions f3, all arranged and operating substantially as and i or the purpose setforth.

i. The herein-described combination ot" a pack-carrier with pasting apparatus and the wi )er n2 mounted to enOaOe the )astv sur 4 7 D o c face of the pack on the carrier, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, the endless paelecarrier, pasting apparatus, and can-carrier, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

4t. The pack-holder 1J, in combination With the clamp-screw b and a oord, 2, and spring 3, or its equivalent, for elevating the packholder, and means,'substantially such as described, for tightening and releasing the clamp.

5. In a can-labelin g machine, a can-carrier moving in guides, in combination with a pack-holder arranged to bring the surface of the pack when in the holder slightly inclined i to the guides of the can-carrier, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

MARTIN Y. ll. ETHRTDGE.

'\\'itnesses:

EDWARD BEACH, JOHN R. SNOW. 

